Converting my UK PPL to an Australian PPL with Minovation was fun and not too much trouble. I had to sit the Australian Air Law exam, pass their class II medical, take a skills test and pass a navigation exercise plus apply for the mandatory ASIC security card to be allowing airside in these post 9/11 days. In WA there are few Navaids and so my VFR navigation skills had to improve accordingly. I now feel confident I can pick out that water tower en-route over miles and miles of featureless land. That being said there is much to see in WA and the country is normally far from featureless particularly along the coast. Of course for a holiday some paperwork and a check ride is all that is needed for a "temporary license" but if coming from abroad check with Min by e-mail or call to ask what you will need to do long before departure because the security requirements might have changed and passes for aviation take time to process in Australia.

Jandakot Aerodrome is situated in the southern Perth suburb of Jandakot, and the aerodrome is located within a convenient distance from both Perth and Fremantle taking about 30 minutes from either by hire car. The Kwinana Freeway running north to south right through the centre of Perth brings you close to the airfield then it is just a short distance away to the east. Jandakot is a pure GA aerodrome and has 6 runways of which normally depending on the wind direction two are active (06/24 left and right respectively) one of which takes care of circuits and training. Alternately runways 30/12 are available on what would be otherwise un-flyable cross wind days as the Perth/Fremantle Doctor does blow consistently in the summer. All runway details, joining and departure information and much more is available at the Jandakot website online in pdf format. www. jandakotairport.com.au

I have flown to Jurien bay in the north along the coast, inland to York and Northam and Pingelly plus Busselton, Bunbury and Margaret River in the South West and many other destinations along the south coast. However my favourite destination is in fact the shortest from Jandakot called Rottnest Island. Just 19kms from west from Fremantle in the Indian Ocean lies this island jewel. It takes approximately 20 minutes to get to from Jandakot in a PA28 and subject to aircraft availability you can stay all day. This is a must go to destination. Apart from Jandakot and Perth all aerodromes in WA are uncontrolled i.e. no ATC so you have to make the appropriate blind calls or talk to the other traffic just like in the States. Rottnest has its own little aerodrome and even in the summer you will often find your aircraft the only one there. The island is a nature reserve and boasts some of the best snorkelling and diving in Western Australia with beaches to die for and no cars just cycle hire and the island bus for transport so it really is unspoilt. Once out of the Thompson Bay area, where the aerodrome is situated, there is plenty to explore and you will never find the beaches crowded or sometimes even populated. See www. rottnestisland.com

Of course you can travel the length and breadth of WA and Min will help you pre-plan if coming from overseas. In my opinion and I have flown with a few clubs and schools around the world Minovation is by far the best all round flying organisation I have had the pleasure to deal with and hire aeroplanes from and with the choice and availability of aircraft and overall first class service I thoroughly recommend Minovation to everyone.

For more information or details I can be contacted by e-mail just ask Min or Simon for my address